Jack



w. N. KNowLToN Nav. 17, 1925.

'A JAcK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Filed A i1 2l, 1925 ATrRHEY N O T L w O N K N. w 5 2 9 1. 7' .l v. ,0 N

JApx

Filled Aprii 21 1 K v l v l INVENTO 1 BY l vll/11111111111 fill/lll /W//v/,Fba

ATTORNEY Patented Nov.`i17v, 1925. i d

` UNITED STATES- 1,561,862 PATENT- OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. K NowLToN, or: JAcxsoNnEIGH'rs, :maw yonx.

JACK.

Application leid April 21, 1925. Serial No. 24,732.

improvements are directed to certain novel and simple structures and arrangementsof parts whereby .the vehicle may be lifted and again lowered at points adjacent its respective wheels to'clear the latter individually froml the surface,

l other purposes, by the simpleexpedient of external thread, and a g internal thread engaged with t applying a crank to a shaft.

\My invention includes the provision of a tubular device which is adapted to besecured to .an axle of a motor vehicle, a'jack elenentwhich is capable of vertical movement insaid tubular device, but is nontable therein, said jack element hav' worm ear thread of said jack element, said worm gear having a thrust bearing' lying against the lower end of said tubular device, so that rotation of said worm gear, in Iopposite directions has y`the *effectl either of extending the' jack elementor contracting it.

The worm gear is to be driven by a worm shaft which is journalled in a hanger that may be carriedby or forni a part of the tubular device, this worm shaft having suitable driving connections whereby it can be actuated.

` Preferably I provide meansifor drivingl .at different speeds, using athe Worm vshaft geared up drive for lowering the jackto the surface and raising it therefrom, these operations being performed without load, and therefore capable of when the jack element has been loweredv to the surface and it is desired to lift the motor vehicle the driving means is direct to-thereby provide suitable drivingl power, thus Aenabling` the motor vehicle to be conveniently lifted byy manual operation. Y

The Vworm shaftwhioh thus lactuates the jack element to raise and lower it and the vehicle is as stated journalled at one end in a hanger carried by an axle of the motor vehicle. Since the axle is carried. by the usual spring suspension means and the worm for tire changing and and my improved ving an Fig. 4, showing the jack extended, and

lbecause the respectlve quick performance.l Butshaft at its other end is journalled in a bear ing having fixed relation to the hhassis, I have Vfound it necessary to provide means of compensation f or the play that occurs as the suspenslonsprlngs ie'x andthe tires yield when the vehicle travels over a rough surface. Otherwise the'strains imposed upon` the worin shaft would distort or break it. Therefore said worm 'shaft is rendered telescopic so that it may extend and contract in length, salJ joints manner of a flexible shaft.

Other features and advantages of 'my-'invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings: Y `Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle equipped with my improved jack mechamsm. Y

Fig. "2 is a sectionV on the line 2 2 of Figli-1; Y l

Fig. 3 is a top plan view. of the rear portion of the chassis, showing the differential 'jacks as applied to the and it is also provided with univerrear axle.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged Asection on v.the line' 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a Side' view, partly in section of Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig.5.

In said views I have shown my improved jacks as applied tothe front and rear axles 1- and 2 of 'a' motor vehicle, adjacent the wheels at one side of the vehicle, and althourh both front wheels are not Also in the detail views my Aimprovements are shown only as a,- singlefj ack assemblage,

` 'acks with their supporting and actuating means are-all alike.

' In the example illustrated Lthe rear axle 2 isshown as provided with a sleeve 3, forming part of the diiferential housing 4. Henceforth in the description this sleeve v3 will be referred to as an axle, since for the purposes of my invention it 'has the same relation therein as the rigid front axle.

In any one o f the jack assemblages let- 5 indicate a tubular port-ion of attingor casting from which there extends a socket portion 6 adapted td receive an axle, a cap 7 completing the encirclement of said axle and being sezured` to the socket port-ion 6' by vwhich permit it to yield vin the' illustrated i it will beunderstoodV that similar jacks are applied to serve the respective wheels.

loo

screws 8. Also a' set screw 9 is entered Ithe lower end 12 of said tubular portion, and.

having a collar 13 at its upper end that binds against the top of said tubular-portion.

The jack element, as here represented, is of .composite character, being composed of an externally threadedtube 14, slidably disposed within lining 10, and carrying an internally threaded worm gear 15, which is in thrust `bea'ring relation to lining 10, be-

neath the head 11 thereof, so that the tube` 14 will be lowered or raised according to the direction of rotation given the worm gear 15. A casing 16, secured as by screws elo 17 to the tubular portion 5 of the `fitting, serves to enclose the worm gear and receives the threadedend of a worm shaft 18 that is journalled in a hanger 18L forming a part vof the fitting and belng an extension of the -tubular portion 5, said worm shaft meshing with said worm gear, to aetuateit. i

The externally threaded tube 14, .forming part of the jack element, has closure means 19 at its lower end, with-a terminal sphere 20, seatedin a foot or base member 21, in which it is held by means of a cover plate 22, this ball and socket connection enablingr the jack toaccommodate itself to inequalities of thesurface upon which it may be imposed. Slidably fitting within tube 14 is a squaredvv rod 23, Pins or studs -24 extend inwardly from tube 14 to bear against opporsite sides of this squared rod as an example of means for preventing relative rotation between the rod and tube. jects atits upper end through a cap-25 whiclr is secured 'as closure means upon al sheathlike extension 26 of tubular portion thatv serves'to house the upper end of tube 14 when the jack is not in use. Thus in effect the tubular portion 5 and sheath 2G constitute a housing for thevjack element. The projected end of rod 23 receives a nut 27 that binds it to cap 25, thereby preventing rotation of said rod.

AIt will now be appreciated that when the worm gear is rotated suitably, the jack element being'inits retracted position shown in Fig. 4, this rotation will have the effect of lowering the^jack to the surface, and.l thereafter,further rotation of said worm gear will cause the vehicle toy be raised by taking the wheel Which is served off the surface, (see Fig. 5).

The worm shaft is of com osite character as will be described herelna ter,.and 1s provided with a bevel gear 28 that meshes with a bevel gear 29, carried by a shaft 30, which is journalled in a bearing 31 forming part Aof a hanger 32, said hanger having a carry- Said rod 23 pro-- ing plate 33 which is bolted to the under side of the running board 34 of the motor vehicle. A web 35 is extended from the hanger 32 and plate 33, in parallelism to shaft 30, and has near its -lfree end an offset bracket portion 36 provided with a socket 37 for the reception of the worm shaft, said bracket portion 36 also providing an end bearing for the shaft 30, near the bevel gear 29. Direct drive is had through the shaft 30, bevel gears 29 and 28, to operate the worm shaft 18, said shaft 30 having a squared end 38 for engagement by a hand crank 39, and by these means the load may be conveniently raised from and lowered to the surface. But when the jack is to bc lowered toior raised from the surface I prefer to employ high speed gearing, an example whereof will now be described: Also journalled in the hanger 31 and bracket portion 36` is a shaft 40, parallel to shaft 30., said shaft 40 being squared at its end 41 for engagement by a crank handle, and having a plate 42 secured to its opposite end. Bolted to said plate is a gear wheel 43, whose gear teeth are internal., and a pinion 44 which forms a rear extension'of bevel gear 29 is in mesh engagement with 'said internal gear. The gear 43 being relatively much larger in diameter than the pinion provides lgreater speed when the drive. is applied, upon turninfr shaft 40, from the gear 43. through pinion 44 and bevel gears 29 and 28, to the worm shaft. Therefore it is this Vshaft 40 which is lactuated when the jack alone is to be operated. A casing 45, secured to the bracket 36, serves to enclose the gear 43, pinion 44 and gear 29.

It has alreadybeen stated that the worm shaft is of composite character and by'this it is meant that said' worm shaft or driving connectionis composed of jointed members to be capable of lexure, and that said members are in distensible and contractiblev relation for the reasons set forth.

Heretofore the wormshaft has been designated by the reference numeral 18, but the part or member thus designated actually comprises the shaft length bearing the worm thread which is in mesh engagement -with 'worm gear 15. Said shaft length 18 4secured within the socket 37J provided in bracket portion 36. From the `tore-going description it will be seen that a comp site worm shaft has been provided willie, is both variable in'its length and capable of freely flexing, thus permitting said shaft,

' means,

and power as Ea connecting element, to adapt itself to all the relative motion occurring between the rigid chassis and the yieldingly mounted axle, while preserving in full effectv the drive characteristics of said Worm shaft for the operation ofthe jack.

vVariatior'isWithin the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim:

l. y The combination with -a motor vehicle having a chassis and a body portion, and

axles and wheels `carried by said chassis, of`

means for 'elevating a wheel "comprisingva tubular housing secured to an axle .and arrangedsubstantially perpendicular thereto, and closure means for the upper end of' said housing, a linlng Within said tubular lionsing having a head that abutls against the lower end thereof, means upon the upper end of said lining to engage the upper end of said housing, an externally threaded tube forming a jack element within said lining, a rod having telescopic, non-rotatable relation with sai/d externally threaded tube, said red beingin fixed relation to said `closure a worm gear mounted on said externally threaded tube and bearing against the lower surface hanger carried by said tubular housing, a worm shaft journalled in said shaft hanger and meshing with said wormgear, and means carried by said body portion for rotating` said worm shaft whereby. to `lower or raise said externally threaded tube.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle having an axle, of elevating means `carried by said axle, said elevating means being vertically reciprocable and normally held in spaced relation with' the surface, drive means for moving sald elevating mea-ns at relatively high speed to and from the surface, means Y for lnc-reasing the power of said drive means, when operating under load conditions, and respective means to selectively actuate said highspeed increase drive means.

. 3. he. combinationv with a motor vehicle having" anaxle and a body, of elevating means 'carried by said axle, said, elevating means being vertically reciprocable'andnormally held in spaced relation with the surface, drive means for moving said elevating means at relatively high speed to and from the surface, means for increasing the power of said drive means lwhen operating under load conditions, a hanger carried by said body and parallel, crank actuable shafts means.

journalled in said hangeroto selectively operate said high speed lan power increase drive 4. The com having an axle, of elevating means carried by said axle, said elevating means being vertically reciprocable and normally held in of said lining head, a shaft'v manually operable spaced relation with the surface, direct drive^ means for moving said elevatingv means under load conditions, geared up means to increase thespeed of said elevating mearis when moved to and fromits normal position, and respective manually operable means to selectively actuate said directdrive and speedincrease drive means.

5. The combination with a motor vehicle having an axle'and a body, of a jack elementcarried by said axle, direct drive means carried 'sa-id body' for moving said jack element underv load conditions, geared up means also carried by said body forjincreasing the' speed with 'which the jack element is operated under idling conditions, andrespeetive manually operable means'for operating said direct drive means and geared 'up means.

6. The combination With-af motor vehicle having an axle and a body, of a threaded jack element, a housing therefor carried by said axle, means to prevent rotation of said jack element, revoluble means engaging the thread of saidv jack element, to lower and raise the latter, direct driving means carried by said body -for operathigsaid revoluble means under load conditions, means also carried by said body for increasing the sped of said driving means under idling conditions, and respective means for actuating said direct driving and speed increasing means. 'l 8. The combination with a motor vehicle having an axle and a. body, and means for elevating said vehicle comprising a jack element carried by said axle, of .Worm gear toI operate said jack element, a Worm shaftl meshing with .said worm gear, abevelled gear on Lsaid worm shaft, said bevelled gear carrying a pinion, a hanger carried by said body, a drive shaft journalled in said hanger and carrying a bevelledfgear which is in mesh with vsaid first-named bevelled gear to operate said jack element under load conditions, a seconddrive shaft also journalled in said hanger and carrying an internally toothedgear withwhich said pinion engages .to operate said jack element under idling conditions, and res ective means for actuat ination with a motor vehilefing said drive Sha S.

9. The combination with a motor vehicle` having a chassis, a spring supported axle and wheelscarried thereby, and a body poi'-,

tion, of elexfnting meansv carried by said said telescopic Worm shaft and shaft length, axle, a Wormgear for actuating said ele-V and means carried by said bracket to co-act vating means, a telescopic, worm shaft for with said shfift length for the operation of 10 operating'said Worin gear, n bracket secured Silld GIGSCOPIC WOlm Shaft. 1

to Said body portion, a shaft length jour- ]Cxecut-ed this 20th day of April, 1925. l nalled in said bracket, a link in universal' Q joint relation at its ends respectively with WILLIAM N. KNOVVLTON. 

